ASSESSMENT OF ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN NORTHERN LIGHT SOILS OF FCV TOBACCO IN ANDHRA PRADESH

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the organochlorine pesticides in FCV tobacco growing Northern Light Soil (NLS) area of Andhra Pradesh. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) for detection and quantification of eleven organo-chlorine pesticide residues (á-HCH, â-HCH, ã-HCH, ä-HCH, chlorpyriphos, endrin, á-endosulfan, â-endosulfan, endosulphate, 2,4-DDT, and 4,4-DDT) in soil samples. The concentration of á-HCH varied from 0.001 to 0.014 μg/g (Mean value: 0.003 μg/g). While the â-HCH and ä-HCH are in the range of 0.003 to 0.025 μg/g and 0.001 to 0.018 μg/g, respectively. The mean value of total BHC (á-HCH, â-HCH, ä-HCH) was 0.0162 μg/g. The mean value of Chlorpyriphos concentration was 0.03 ug/g, while the mean Endrin concentration was 0.008 ug/g. The Endosulfate content ranged from 0.004 to 0.075 μg/g with a mean value of 0.032 μg/g. Total organochlorine pesticide residues in northern light soils varied from 0.036 (Sangayagudem) μg/g to 0.449 μg/g (Dhrabhagudem) with a mean value of was 0.126 μg/ g. The pesticide residue concentrations found in the studied FCV tobacco grown soils were below the Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) varying from 0.1 to 8.0 ìg/kg set by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The detected pesticide residues reflected the type of pesticides that may have been used in the past in the study areas. Hence, it is concluded from the study that the FCV tobacco grown under NLS area is free from Organochlorine Pesticide residues.